Mel Kiper Jr. offers high praise for a pair of Detroit Lions rookies

AP PhotoEzekiel Ansah has 2.5 sacks through three games, but ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the rookie defensive end has been even better against the run.

The Detroit Lions rookie class continues to get rave reviews.

In his second "Rookie Ratings" column of the young season, ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. places a pair of Lions in his top six first-year players.

Despite emphasizing the importance of positional value in his rankings, guard Larry Warford checks in at No. 3 on the list, up 10 spots from Kiper's initial rankings.

"...based on what I'm seeing, Warford has been one of the top 15 or so guards in the NFL so far," Kiper writes.

At No. 6, defensive end Ezekiel Ansah makes his debut on Kiper's list.

"He has 2.5 sacks so far, but I think Ansah has been even better as a run defender," Kiper writes. "He can bend the edge and force a runner back inside which, when facing the Lions, is an unpleasant place to go."

And Ansah and Warford aren't the only Lions rookies making an impact. Punter Sam Martin has been outstanding, ranking sixth in the NFL in net average (42.7 yards) and taking home Special Teams Player of the Week honors for Week 3.

Additionally, undrafted tight end Joseph Fauria has played limited snaps, but is already developing into a reliable red zone weapon, catching two scores in the first three games.

Other rookies on the Detroit's roster could see an increased opportunity to shine in coming weeks, particularly fourth-round defensive end Devin Taylor, who will be pressed into rotational action after a season-ending injury to Jason Jones.